Footwear-adjuster.



R. P. & R. A. ORR. FOOTWEAR ADJUSTER APPUCATIONIH-LED JAN." 18. ram.

.1 ,238,432., I PatentedAug. 28, 1917.

ran srnns nrnn'r @FtiiiiE.

, ROBERT P. ORR AND RUSSELL A. ORR, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

FOOTWEAR-ADJUSTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 191?.

Application filed January 18, 1917. Serial No. 143,039.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT P. ORR and RUSSELL A. ORR, both citizens of the United States, and both residing at 35 South Manning Boulevard, Albany, county of Albany, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Footwear-Adjusters, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The present invention relates to an implement which is especially adapted for handling over-shoes, to put them on or remove them from the feet; but may be used for handling any kind of footwear, as slippers, Oxford ties, and shoes of all kinds, in a similar manner.

Our construction includes a single flat strip of sheet-metal like band-iron or band-steel bent into U-shape forming arms a, which have jaws attached to their ends curved concentrically to fit the inner side and the outer side of the shoe-counter or quarter.

The arms are held normally apart by their elasticity, as shown in Figure 1, and are pressed together as shown in Fig. 3 when gripping the shoe-counter.

The convex jaw is provided witha smooth lower edge transverse to the plane of the arms, by which the india-rubber shoe or slipper may be pushed off without injury to the lining of such shoe.

The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing, inwhich Fig. l is a perspective viewof the implement with integral arms separated by their inherent elasticity. Fig. 2 is a plan of an overshoe with a section of the jaws located upon the inner and outer sides of the counter in readiness to grip the same; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the implement in use in removing an overshoe from the foot.

The arms a are shown in the drawing formed of a single strip of band-metal bent into U-shape with a loop a at the upper end. A convex jaw b and concave jaw 0 are shown attached to the ends of the arms, as by solder or riveting, and are curved concentrically to fit one within the other when pressed together, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 3 illustrates the mode of using the implement to apply or remove an overshoe.

The inner jaw b is of the same shape as an ordinary shoe-horn and operates when inserted within the counter, as shown in Fig.

3, to facilitate the insertion of the foot intothe shoe, or its removal therefrom.

The outer jaw 0 may be termed the clamping j aw,' as it operates when pressed toward the jaw Z) to clamp the counter of the shoe with sufficient firmness to handle the shoe in the desired manner.

The essential feature of the invention is the use of a fiat parallel edged band, such as band-iron or band-steel to form the body and arms of the implement, and the attachment of the jaws to such a band. This makes a very cheap and convenient construction.

We do not claim the mere use of concentric jaws for pinching the counter of a shoe, as hinged lever-arms have been provided with such jaws for a diversity of purposes; but claim only the complementary curved jaws when combined with the ends of a flat strip of band-iron or band-steel bent into a loop.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what is claimed herein is:

1. An implement for handling shoes, comprising a fiat strip of band-metal bent into a loop forming two elastic arms, and complementary curved jaws attached to the ends of the arms substantially as herein set forth, and adapted to clamp a shoe-counter.

2. An implement for handling shoes, comprising a fiat strip of band-metal bent into a loop forming two elastic arms, and complementary convex and concave jaws attached to the ends of the arms substantially as herein set forth, and adapted to clamp a shoe-counter, and the convex jaw having a transverse end smoothed to permit the pushing of a shoe from the foot without injury to the lining of the shoe.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

ROBERT P. one. RUSSELL A. one.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

